KR101758957B1 - Adaptor and drug delivery device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention comprises a reservoir (20) for containing an article, having an end piece (21) projecting on a circle having a longitudinal axis (A) and forming a channel which provides a passage for delivery of product from the reservoir, An adapter having an engageable collar (30), securing means for blocking said collar in a distal direction relative to said end piece when said collar is engaged around said end piece, Rotation preventing means for preventing rotation of the collar relative to the end piece around the longitudinal axis (A) under the effect of an applied rotational torque, and means for neutralizing the rotation preventing means when the rotational torque reaches a predetermined value, And a deactivation means for allowing the rotation of the collar relative to the collar. The invention also relates to such adapters.

Description

≪ Desc / Clms Page number 1 > ADAPTER AND DRUG DELIVERY DEVICE <

The present invention relates to an adapter intended for or for use with a drug delivery device having an end piece, wherein the adapter has a collar engageable around said end piece to enable secure connection of the connector on said collar. The present invention also relates to a drug delivery device comprising such a couplable adapter.

The drug delivery device usually includes a hollow body defining a reservoir for containing a medical product. In addition, the distal end of the body forming the reservoir typically includes an end piece in which axial passages through which the product exits from the reservoir are arranged.

In the present application, the distal end of the component or device should be understood to mean the end farthest from the user's hand, and the proximal end should be understood to mean the end closest to the user's hand. Similarly, in the present application, the distal direction should be understood as the direction of infusion or delivery of the product (i.e., from the reservoir to the delivery line), and the proximal direction is the opposite direction.

In addition, the reservoir and end pieces of the drug delivery device can be made of a variety of materials such as glass or plastic. If it is known that the stability of the product stored in the reservoir is not affected by the plastic nature of the walls of the reservoir, it is desirable to have a drug delivery device made of a plastic material to avoid the general risk associated with the handling of the glass material . Indeed, if a drug delivery device made of glass material is broken, not only is the product that it may contain lost, but also the resulting piece of glass material poses a risk to people around. In addition, lost products may also pose a risk when such products are, for example, toxic drugs.

It is also desirable to have a drug delivery device made of a plastic material when such a drug delivery device is filled with the product and provided to the end user in a pre-filled state: therefore, the steps of pre-charging, sterilization, packaging, transportation, The risk of damaging the drug delivery device during various operations prior to its use is substantially limited.

The handling of products, such as liquid medicines, for parenteral administration to a patient, which is often performed by a perfusion device, as is often the case in hospitals or emergencies, involves the administration of a drug delivery device IV < / RTI > connector that connects to the patient ' s vein via an IV line. Of course, the drug delivery device, particularly its end pieces and connectors, must be assembled together accurately and reliably.

In view of this, the drug delivery device usually includes an outer collar surrounding the end piece, which collar is connected to the connector to facilitate delivery of the product from the end piece of the drug delivery device to the connector and then into the IV line It is intended.

At the point where the connector is connected to the collar, the collar receives stress generated from the force applied to connect the connector thereon. The intensity of the applied force may vary depending on how the connector is connected on the collar; Typically, the inner wall of the collar has threads and the connector is connected to the collar by screwing. The strength of the force applied during the threading phase depends on the user. The first result is that the stress the color receives when the connector is connected on the collar is not controllable.

It also occurs that the collar surrounding the end piece of the drug delivery device ruptures or cracks at the point of receiving the stress necessary to connect the connector thereon, for example, if the user screws the connector in the collar with too high a force And does not stop the screw connection in time. In such a case, the connector is not reliably and precisely connected to the end portion of the drug delivery device, and administration of the drug becomes impossible, or even worse, delayed. In addition, such a phenomenon can also lead to the risk of contamination or siphoning phenomena, i.e. uncontrolled delivery of the drug due to height differences between the catheter and the drug delivery device associated with the IV line.

In some cases, the user may not realize that the color has been cracked and weakened. Such a situation is particularly problematic when the connector is connected to a syringe operated by an automatic pump, such as for delivery of an anesthetic product during operation, for example. The pump is simply a machine that can not recognize that the collar is cracked or broken and that improper injection occurs.

One aspect of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for removing a drug from a drug delivery system, while at the same time limiting the risk of breakage of the collar at the point at which the connector is threaded onto the collar, regardless of variations in the strength of the force that can be applied by the user to complete the threaded- And to provide an adapter having a collar engageable with an end piece of the delivery device.

A further aspect of the present invention is a drug delivery device with such an adapter, wherein the adapter is not associated with or coupled to the end piece of the drug delivery device.

One aspect of the invention is an adapter for use with or for use with a drug delivery device having a reservoir for containing the product, the reservoir having an end piece projecting over a circle forming a passage for delivery of the product from the reservoir Have,

The adapter includes:

A collar engageable with said end piece,

Adapter fixing means for limiting translational movement of said collar with respect to said end piece when said collar is engaged with said end piece,

An adapter anti-rotation means for limiting the rotation of said collar relative to said end piece when said collar is engaged with said end piece,

- deactivating said adapter anti-rotation means in response to a rotational torque equal to or greater than a predetermined value applied to said collar when said collar is engaged with said end piece to allow rotation of said collar relative to said end piece Way

.

Another aspect of the invention is a drug delivery device,

The drug delivery device,

A reservoir for containing the product, having an end piece projecting over a circle forming a passage for delivery of the product from the reservoir,

An adapter, such as said adapter, having a collar engageable around said end piece,

Fixing means for limiting translational movement of said collar with respect to said end piece when said collar is engaged with said end piece,

Rotation preventing means for limiting the rotation of the collar relative to the end piece when the collar is engaged around the end piece,

- deactivating means for neutralizing said anti-rotation means in response to a rotational torque equal to or greater than a predetermined value applied to said collar when said collar is engaged with said end piece to allow rotation of said collar relative to said end piece;

.

The end piece protruding on the circle may have a vertical axis. The fastening means can block the movement of the collar in the distal direction with respect to the end piece, especially when the collar is engaged with the end piece. The anti-rotation means can prevent the rotation of the collar about the end piece about the longitudinal axis A, especially under the effect of the rotational torque applied to the collar when the collar is engaged with the end piece.

In the present invention, when the collar of the adapter is engaged with the end piece of the drug delivery device, the connector can be screwed into threads that may exist on the inner wall of the collar without risk of breakage or cracking of the collar. Indeed, when the user, who handles the reservoir with one hand and the connector with the other hand, begins to screw the connector into the collar of the adapter, the collar is prevented from rotating about the longitudinal axis of the end piece, And is held fixed with respect to the end piece. Unless the connector reaches the proximal end of the thread present on the collar, the user feels low resistance from the collar and does not need to apply a high rotational torque to the connector to thread the connector onto the collar.

Due to the structure of the adapter of the present invention, the user will know when the connector reaches the proximal end of the thread present on the collar, for example by a signal such as an acoustic signal or click, as will be apparent from the following description do. Thus, on the one hand, the risk of too much screwing to break or crack the collar is avoided, while on the other hand, the end user can easily see whether the connector is correctly assembled and securely fastened.

Indeed, in the adapter and the drug delivery device of the present invention, when the connector reaches the proximal end of the thread of the collar, the user feels resistance from the collar and the rotational torque the user applies on the connector now tends to cause the collar to rotate . In prior art devices in which the collar is permanently fixed to the end piece without being able to rotate about these end pieces, the result is that the collar breaks or cracks under the effect of the high rotational torque applied by the user via the connector.

In contrast, in the adapter of the present invention which is capable of engaging with the end piece of the drug delivery device of the present invention, the deactivation means is configured so that the user can adjust the value of the rotational torque by a value corresponding to the user's sensed force when the connector is securely screwed The rotation preventing means is neutralized. The fact that the collar is allowed to rotate about the end piece when the user then applies a rotational torque in excess of the predetermined value is to prevent the collar from breaking or cracking. Also, when the user finds that the collar of the adapter rotates about the end piece, he assures that the connector is securely and accurately connected to the collar and that the transport of the product from the store through the connector to the IV is now without risk I know.

A portion of the anti-rotation means may be located on the adapter: this is referred to herein as an adapter anti-rotation means. A portion of the anti-rotation means may be located on the end piece of the drug delivery device: this is referred to herein as an end anti-rotation means. The adapter rotation preventing means and the end portion rotation preventing means can cooperate with each other to form the rotation preventing means.

In an embodiment, the adapter anti-rotation means is located on the collar, and when the collar engages the end piece, it is positioned on the outer wall of the end piece until the predetermined value of the rotation torque is applied to the collar Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > complementary < / RTI > The complementary portion can form the end portion rotation preventing means.

In an embodiment, the anti-rotation means includes at least a portion located on the collar and at least a complementary portion located on the outer wall of the end piece, the portion and the complementary portion being such that the collar engages the end piece The predetermined values of the rotational torque are coupled to each other until they are applied to the collar. In such a situation, said portion and said complementary portion thus prevent or at least restrict rotation of said collar relative to said end piece.

In an embodiment, the deactivation means can be combined with the end-section-rotation preventing means for a rotational torque smaller than the predetermined value when the collar is engaged with the end piece, Value, the deactivation means is thereby detached from the end-turn anti-rotation means to allow the collar to rotate about the end piece.

In an embodiment, the deactivation means is associated with a portion of the anti-rotation means, particularly an end-turn anti-rotation means, for a smaller torque than the predetermined value when the collar is engaged with the end piece, And the deactivation means is thereby detached from the portion of the anti-rotation means to allow the collar to rotate about the end piece, do.

In an embodiment, the deactivating means comprises at least one skirt piece of the collar, and the end anti-rotation means or portion of the anti-rotation means mentioned above comprises at least one protrusion located on the outer wall of the end piece Wherein the skirt piece and the protrusion are releasably engageable with each other until the collar engages the end piece and until the predetermined value of the rotational torque is applied to the collar, Is greater than or equal to the predetermined value, it is bent radially outward to overcome the protrusion.

In an embodiment, the skirt piece has at least a radial wall, and the protrusion is arranged to be in contact with the end piece when the collar is engaged with the end piece and until the predetermined value of the rotational torque is applied to the collar. Wherein the radial wall is adapted to overcome the protrusion under the effect of radial outward bending of the skirt piece when the rotational torque is equal to or greater than the predetermined value so as to limit rotation of the collar, do.

In an embodiment, a plurality of longitudinal ridges is additionally formed on the inner wall of the skirt piece, and each longitudinal ridge is configured such that when the collar engages the end piece and the predetermined value of the rotational torque is applied to the collar To limit rotation of said collar relative to said end piece until said rotation torque is greater than said predetermined value and to allow rotation of said collar relative to said end piece when said rotation torque is equal to or greater than said predetermined value, And is releasably engageable with the projection.

In an embodiment, a plurality of protrusions are formed on the outer wall of the end piece and spaced about it, and the collar has a plurality of skirt pieces spaced about the circumference of the collar to match the spacing of the protrusions. For example, the outer wall of the end piece may have four protrusions spaced regularly around the circumference of the end piece, and the collar may include four skirt pieces spaced regularly around the circumference of the collar.

In the adapter and the drug delivery device of the present invention, a part of the fastening means may be located on the adapter: this is referred to herein as the adapter fastening means. A part of the fastening means can be located on the end piece: this is referred to herein as the end piece fixing means. The adapter fixing means and the end piece fixing means can cooperate with each other to form the fixing means. In an embodiment, a toroidal ridge is provided on the outer wall of the end piece, the adapter securing means comprising an abutment surface provided on the inner wall of the collar, the abutment surface being such that the collar engages the end piece in a distal direction When pressed, is coupled to the annular ridge phase.

In an embodiment, the anchoring means comprises an annular ridge provided on the outer wall of the end piece and an abutment surface provided on the inner wall of the collar, the abutment surface having a collar engaged around the end piece, , It is bonded to the annular ridge phase.

In an embodiment, the abutment surface is an annular rim provided on the inner wall of the skirt piece (s). In an embodiment, said abutment surface is formed with a distal end of said longitudinal ridge.

In an embodiment, the collar has threads formed on the inner surface of the distal wall. As will be apparent from the description below, such threads are intended to cooperate with the complementary threads of the connector intended to be connected to the collar.

In an embodiment, the distal wall of the collar is formed of a material selected from olefins, polyamides, polycarbonates, polyether ketones, and combinations thereof. The olefin may be selected from polyolefins or cyclo-olefins such as cyclo-olefin polymers and cyclo-olefin copolymers. Such a material ensures good rigidity for the distal wall of the collar where the thread is present and the threading of the connector takes place. Alternatively or in combination, the adapter may further comprise a reinforcement means formed on the outer surface of the distal wall of the collar. The reinforcement means may be an additional outer ridge of material added on the outer surface of the distal wall of the collar.

In an embodiment, the deactivating means is selected from the group consisting of olefins, polyamides, polycarbonates, thermoplastic elastomers, polyoxymethylene, polybutylene terephthalate, styrene polymers, polyvinyl chloride, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, Made of selected material. The olefin may be selected from polyolefins or cyclo-olefins, such as cyclo-olefin polymers and cyclo-olefin copolymers.

In an embodiment, the end piece is made of glass.

In another embodiment, the end piece is made of plastic.

In an embodiment, the adapter may further comprise adapter guiding means for ensuring alignment of the collar on the end piece when the collar is engaged with the end piece. In particular, the adapter guiding means can cooperate with the end piece guiding means located on the end piece to ensure alignment of the collar on the longitudinal axis of the end piece, and the adapter guiding means and the end piece guiding means can be guided together Forming means.

In an embodiment, the radial wall (s) of the skirt piece (s) form at least part of the adapter guiding means. The adapter guide means may further comprise a longitudinal groove formed by a gap present between the longitudinal ridges.

In an embodiment, the drug delivery device further comprises guiding means for ensuring alignment of the collar on the end piece, especially on the longitudinal axis of the end piece when the collar is engaged with the end piece.

(S) of the skirt piece (s), wherein the protruding part (s) are arranged in such a way that the collar is in contact with the end piece Sliding along the radial wall (s) when engaged. The guiding means may further comprise longitudinal grooves formed by gaps present between the longitudinal ridges, wherein each said protrusion (s) comprises a plurality of longitudinal grooves, when said collar is engaged with said end piece Lt; / RTI >

In an embodiment, the guiding means further comprises an inclined surface of the longitudinal ridge, the inclined surface urging the projection in the longitudinal groove when the collar engages the end piece.

Another aspect of the invention is an article having a reservoir for containing a product having an end piece protruding over a circle as described above and forming a passage for conveying the product from the reservoir, It is a drug delivery device that contains the same adapter. Another aspect of the invention is an assembly comprising a drug delivery device as described above and an adapter as described above that is engageable with an end piece of the drug delivery device.

The adapter and drug delivery device of the present invention will now be further described with reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings.

1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an adapter and a drug delivery device of the present invention prior to engagement with an end piece of the adapter;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of Figure 1 with the collar of the adapter coupled to the end piece of the reservoir.
Figure 3 is a partial side view of the reservoir of the drug delivery device of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the reservoir of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the adapter of Figure 1;
Figure 6 is a top view of the adapter of Figure 5;
Figure 7 is another perspective view of the adapter of Figure 1;
8 is a sectional view of the perspective view of Fig.
Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the drug delivery device of Figure 2 with the adapter engaged;
10 is a sectional view along the plane II 'of Fig.
11 is a cross-sectional view of the drug delivery device of Fig. 10 when a rotational torque is applied on the collar.
12 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the adapter of the present invention.
13 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the adapter of the present invention.
14 is a plan view of the adapter of Fig.
15 is a perspective view of the adapter of Fig.
Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view of the adapter of Figure 13 coupled with the end piece of the drug delivery device of Figures 1-12.

1, a drug delivery device 1 and an adapter 100 according to the present invention are shown, the drug delivery device 1 includes a reservoir 20 (partially shown), and the adapter 100 ) Includes a collar (30).

The reservoir 20 is intended to contain a fluid, such as a product, preferably a liquid medicine, intended to be infused into the patient. Thus, the reservoir 20 has the overall shape of the reservoir: for example, the reservoir can be a vial or syringe body. The reservoir 20 has an end piece 21 projecting from a distal wall 20a of the reservoir 20 onto a circle. The end piece 21 has a longitudinal axis A and forms a channel 22 that provides a passage for the conveyance of the product from the reservoir 20.

The end piece 21 may be made of any material commonly used to produce medical containers such as vials or syringes. For example, the end piece 21 can be made of glass, especially when the reservoir is a glass syringe. Alternatively, the end piece may be made of a plastic material. The end pieces and walls of the reservoir may be different materials.

Referring to Figures 1, 3 and 4, the end piece 21 has an overall shape which is a part of the hollow cone. The end piece 21 has on its outer wall an annular ridge 23 substantially located in the middle region of the end piece 21. [ Referring to Fig. 4, the annular ridge 23 has an inclined distal surface 23a and a radially proximal surface 23b. The outer wall of the end piece 21 is further provided with four longitudinal projections 24 which are regularly spaced about the circumference of the end piece 21 and are spaced apart proximal to the annular ridge 23. [

Referring to Figures 1 and 5-8, the collar 30 of the adapter 100 will now be described in more detail. As will be apparent from the description below, the collar 30 is engageable around the end piece 21. In the illustrated example, the collar 30 has a generally elongated shape and includes a proximal region 30a and a distal region 30b.

The circular region 30b of the collar 30 has the shape of a generally tubular portion and has on its inner wall a thread 31, the function of which will be described hereinafter. The thread 31 has a proximal end 31a and a distal end 31b. The distal region 30b of the collar 30 may be made of a material exhibiting a predetermined stiffness. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 12, the outer wall of the distal region 30b is provided with a reinforcement means in the form of an outer ridge 34. Such an outer ridge 34 enhances the rigidity of the distal region 30b. The distal region 30b of the collar 30 is the region that is stressed at the time the connector 40 (see Figure 2) is connected to the adapter 100: And the optional reinforcement means as described above confer an excellent stiffness to this distal region.

In the example shown in Figures 5 and 7, the proximal region 30a of the collar 30 includes four skirt pieces 32 extending proximal from the proximal end of the distal region 30b. In the illustrated example, the four skirt pieces 32 are regularly spaced about the circumference of the collar 30 and are separated from each other by four longitudinal slots 33. As will be apparent from the description below, the skirt pieces 32 are flexible and can be turned radially outward under the effect of an outward radial force exerted on their inner wall 32a. In addition, each skirt piece 32 has two lateral sides forming the radial wall 32b.

In another embodiment, not shown, the proximal region of the collar includes only one skirt, or alternatively 2, 3 or 5, or more skirt pieces, as long as the skirt or skirt piece can be radially outwardly inclined can do.

As such, the skirt or skirt piece 32 in the proximal region of the collar 30 can be made of any material having sufficient resilience to allow the skirt or skirt piece to flex, as described above. For example, such materials may be selected from the group consisting of olefins such as polyolefins or cyclo-olefins, especially cyclo-olefin polymers and cyclo-olefin copolymers, polyamides or nylons, polycarbonates, thermoplastic elastomers, polyoxymethylene, Phthalates, styrene polymers, polyvinyl chloride, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and combinations thereof.

Referring to Figures 7 and 8, each skirt piece 32 has a plurality of substantially parallel longitudinal ridges 35 on its inner wall 32a. The distal ends of these longitudinal ridges 35 together form an abutment surface 36.

Referring to Fig. 6, the plurality of longitudinal ridges 35 form a plurality of longitudinal grooves 37 located therebetween. Each longitudinal ridge 35 also has an inclined surface 35a in the direction of the longitudinal axis B of the collar 30.

The adapter 100 of the present invention is particularly useful for connecting the connector to the end piece 21 of the drug delivery device 1 while greatly limiting the risk of damaging the collar 30 . In any case, before connecting the connector to the drug delivery device 1, the user must engage the collar 30 on the end piece 21. The coupling of the collar 30 of the adapter 100 of the present invention onto the end piece 21 of the drug delivery device 1 of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figures 1,2 and 9.

Typically, the user is provided with the drug delivery device 1 and the adapter 100 prior to engagement on the end piece 21 of the collar 30 as shown in Fig. The user then grips the collar 30 in one hand and the reservoir 20 in one hand and approaches the proximal region 30a toward the distal end of the end piece 21 along the direction of the longitudinal axis A . The inner wall 32a of the skirt piece 32 of the proximal region 30a of the collar 30 is tilted until the end piece 21 reaches the inclined surface 23a of the annular ridge 23 of the end piece 21. [ As shown in Fig. Due to the ability of the skirt piece 32 to bend radially and outwardly, the skirt piece 32 deflects outwardly, overcomes the annular ridge 23 and returns to its resting state, Facing the longitudinal protrusions 24 of the housing.

In this position, the collar 30 and the adapter 100 are securely coupled onto the end piece 21, as shown in Figures 2 and 9. The collar 30 and the adapter 100 are arranged in a proximal direction by the proximal end of the collar 30 abutting against the distal wall 20a of the reservoir 20 and by the proximal end of the collar 30 Is blocked or at least restricted in translation in the distal direction by the abutment surface 36 in contact with the radial proximal face 23b, relative to the longitudinal axis A. [ As such, the radial proximal face 23b of the abutment surface 36 and the annular ridge 23 is configured such that when the collar 30 is engaged with the end piece 21, To prevent or at least limit the translational movement of the collar 30 in the direction indicated by the arrow. The abutment surface 36 forms an adapter securing means and the radial proximal face 23b of the annular ridge 23 forms an end piece fixing means.

2 and 9, in which the collar 30 is engaged with the end piece 21, and a substantial rotation (not shown) applied on the collar 30, as will be described hereinafter. In the absence of torque, the collar 30 and the adapter 100 are connected by longitudinal projections 24, which are coupled in longitudinal grooves 37 or longitudinal slots 33, as shown in Fig. 10, Is further blocked or at least restricted in rotation about the axis 21. Indeed, during the step of engaging collar 30 on end piece 21, the longitudinal projections 24 of end piece 21 are spaced apart from longitudinal ridges 35 or skirt pieces 32 of skirt piece 32, During the proximal movement of the collar 30 relative to the end piece 21, the oblique surface 35a of the longitudinal ridge 35 is brought into contact with the radial wall 32b of the longitudinal ridge 35, The radial wall 32b of the skirt piece 32 comes into contact with the longitudinal protrusion 24 and forces the longitudinal protrusion 24 into the slot 33 And the radial wall 32b of the skirt piece 32 serves as an adapter guiding means for accurately aligning the collar 30 on the end piece 21 along the longitudinal axis A. [ The longitudinal projection 24 serves as an end piece guiding means. The radial wall 32b of the longitudinal protrusion 24 and the inclined surface 35a and / or the skirt piece 32 together define the alignment of the collar 30 on the end piece when the collar is engaged with the end piece 21 And serves as guiding means for ensuring safety.

On the one hand the longitudinal projections 24 and on the other hand the radial wall 32b and the longitudinal ridges 35 are also subjected to the effect of the rotational torque applied to the collar 30, And serves as rotation preventing means for preventing the rotation of the collar 30 relative to the flap 21. The longitudinal projections 24 serve as end shunting preventing means, and the radial walls 32b and the longitudinal ridges 35 serve as adapter rotation preventing means.

The adapter 100 in accordance with the present invention is nevertheless suitable for use when the rotational torque applied to the collar 30 is greater than a predetermined value that is likely to cause the collar 30 to break or crack due to the force it receives when the connector is screwed onto the collar 30. [ Such rotation prevention means is deactivated.

The behavior of the collar 30 of the adapter 100 of the present invention when engaged with the end piece 21 and when the connector is threaded inside will now be described with reference to Figures 2 and 9-11.

2, a collar 30 of adapter 100 is associated with an end piece 21 and a connector 40 is intended to be connected to the end piece 21 of the drug delivery device 1, There is shown a drug delivery device 1 of the present invention.

As described above, the handling of liquid medicament for parenteral administration to a patient, often performed by a perfusion device, such as in a hospital or emergency situation, involves the use of an IV line that needs to be connected to a drug delivery device . 2, the connector 40 includes an IV line 41, and its distal end (not shown) is connected to the vein of a patient (not shown). The connector 40 securely connects the connector 40 to the drug delivery device 1 and consequently the IV line 41 to the end piece 21 securely connecting the IV line 41 to the patient ' At the proximal end thereof, a thread 42 intended to cooperate with the thread 31 of the collar 30 to enable the delivery of the collar 30.

During treatment of the patient, or if the product is an anesthetic product, the product must be delivered to the patient in an ongoing manner, and when the reservoir of the drug delivery device is emptied, another drug delivery device (1) (40) and to the IV line (41).

In order to proceed to this connection step, the user must move the drug delivery device 1 with the collar 30 of the adapter 100 in one hand being engaged with the end piece 21 as shown in Figure 2, The connector 40 is held. The user may approach the proximal end 42a of the thread 42 of the connector 40 to the distal end 31b of the thread 31 of the collar 30 and thread the connector 40 into the collar 30 Start.

During this threaded engagement step, on the connector 40 and also on the collar 30 by the action of screwing the connector 40 onto the collar 30, as long as the connector 40 is not completely screwed onto the collar 30 The rotational torque applied by the user is low and the longitudinal protrusion 24 of the end piece 21 acts as the anti-rotation means as shown in Fig. 10, so that the rotation of the collar 30 relative to the end piece 21 To cooperate with the longitudinal ridge 35 of the skirt piece 32 of the collar 30. [ Therefore, the screwing becomes easy.

The rotational torque applied by the user on the connector 40 with respect to threading the connector to the collar 30 is transmitted in collar when the connector 40 is fully threaded into the collar 30: The proximal end 42a of the thread 42 of the connector 40 abuts the proximal end 31a of the thread 31 of the collar 30 or when the proximal surface of the connector 40 contacts the collar 30, Or when a sufficient frictional force is formed between the threads 42 of the connector 40 and the threads 31 of the collar 30. Thus, when the rotational torque transmitted to the collar 30 reaches a predetermined value, the collar 30 is rotated with respect to the end piece 21.

In prior art devices in which the collar is permanently secured, for example, to the end piece, the collar is unable to absorb this additional rotational torque and is cracked or broken.

In contrast, in the drug delivery device 1 and the adapter 100 of the present invention, when the rotational torque transmitted onto the collar 30 reaches a predetermined value, for example, 50 N · cm, the flexible skirt piece 32 are deflected radially outwardly and therefore act as deactivation means of anti-rotation means to enable the collar 30 to rotate and to prevent the collar 30 from cracking and / or breaking.

10, the longitudinal projections 24 are formed in the longitudinal ridges 35 of the flexible skirt piece 32 as long as the rotational torque transmitted onto the collar 30 is less than a predetermined value, And is abutted against the inclined surface 35a of the longitudinal ridge 35. The longitudinal ridges 35 are formed in the longitudinal grooves 37,

11, when the rotational torque shown by R in the figure, which is transmitted to the collar 30, is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the longitudinal protrusion 24 slides on the inclined surface 35a, (32) radially outwardly in the direction of the arrow D in Fig. The longitudinal protrusions 24 overcome the longitudinal ridges 35 and are engaged in adjacent longitudinal grooves 37 to maintain the correct axial alignment of the collar 30 on the end pieces 21. [

The warping of the skirt piece 32 avoids breakage and / or cracking of the collar 30 and the connector 40 is fully threaded within the collar 30 and the IV line 41 is secured to the drug delivery device 1 To the end piece (21) of the endoscope. For example, the user may be perceived by a click or sound produced by the protrusion 24 when the protrusion abuts the adjacent longitudinal ridge 35 after overcoming the previous longitudinal ridge 35.

13-16, another embodiment of the adapter 100 of the present invention is shown in which the collar 130 has four flexible skirt pieces 132 without longitudinal ridges on the inner wall 132a . The collar 130 of Figures 13-16 may be used with the same delivery device 1 and end piece 21 as that of Figures 1-11. In such an embodiment of the adapter 100, the adapter anti-rotation means includes a radial wall 132a formed by the lateral sides of the skirt piece 132. [

As shown in Figures 14 and 15, the four skirt pieces 132 are spaced about the longitudinal axis B of the collar 130 and separated from each other by the longitudinal slot 133. When the collar 130 is engaged with the end piece 21 of the drug delivery device 1 as shown in Fig. 16, the protrusion 24 of the end piece 21 has radial walls 132b Lt; / RTI > in the longitudinal slot 133. As shown in FIG. When the collar 130 is engaged with the end piece 21, the protrusion 24 abuts against the radial wall 132b as long as the rotational torque applied on the collar 130 is less than a predetermined value as defined above . The radial wall 132b forms an adapter anti-rotation means.

The skirt piece 132 may be radially outwardly curved so that when a rotational torque equal to or greater than the predetermined value is applied on the collar 130 the skirt piece 132 will bend radially outwardly, To allow rotation of the collar 130 relative to the end piece 21, as previously described for the embodiment of Figures 1-11.

Similar to the embodiment of Figs. 1-11, the collar 130 of Figs. 13-16 is configured such that when the collar 130 is engaged with the end piece 21, the end portion of the collar 130 abuts against the proximal surface 23b of the annular ridge 23 And has an annular rim 136 intended to abut.

The predetermined value as described above for the rotational torque is a function of the size and structure of the collar and of the material forming the collar, in particular its flexible element, and the end piece.

For example, it is possible to use an olefin, in particular an olefin, in particular a polyolefin and a cycloolefin, for example an olefin polymer and a cycloolefin copolymer, a polyamide or nylon, polycarbonate, And a thermoplastic material selected from skirt pieces selected from the group consisting of olefin, polyamide, polycarbonate, thermoplastic elastomer, polyoxymethylene, polybutylene terephthalate, styrene polymer, polyvinyl chloride, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, Lt; / RTI > for a color as described in Figs.

The adapter and the drug delivery device of the present invention can be used to provide an IV line connector to the end piece of the device without risk of breaking or cracking the collar of the device regardless of the force applied on the connector for connecting the connector to the device Allows secure connections.

Claims (34)

An adapter (100) intended for use with a drug delivery device (1) having a reservoir (20) for containing a product,
The reservoir has an end piece (21) projecting over a circle forming a passage (22) for delivery of the product from the reservoir,
The adapter includes:
- a collar (30; 130) engageable with said end piece,
Adapter fixing means (36) for limiting translational movement of said collar with respect to said end piece when said collar is engaged with said end piece,
Adapter restraining means (32b, 35; 132b) for restricting rotation of said collar with respect to said end piece when said collar is engaged with said end piece,
- neutralizing said adapter anti-rotation means in response to a rotation torque equal to or greater than a predetermined value applied to said collar when said collar is engaged with said end piece, thereby enabling deactivation of said collar relative to said end piece Means (32; 132)
≪ / RTI > The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the adapter anti-rotation means is located on the collar, and when the collar is engaged with the end piece, Includes a portion (32b, 35; 132b) that can be engaged within a complementary portion located on the adapter. 3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said deactivating means is engageable with the end-piece-rotation preventing means (24) for a rotational torque smaller than said predetermined value when said collar is engaged with said end piece The deactivation means (32; 132) may be turned radially outward under the effect of a rotational torque equal to or greater than the predetermined value applied to the collar, and the deactivation means thereby isolates the end anti-rotation means (24) Thereby allowing the collar to rotate relative to the end piece. 4. The device according to claim 3, wherein said deactivation means comprises at least one skirt piece (32; 132) of said collar, said end rotation preventing means comprising at least one protrusion (24) located on the outer wall of said end piece , Wherein the skirt piece (32; 132) and the protrusion (24) are releasably engaged with each other until the collar engages the end piece and until the predetermined value of the rotational torque is applied to the collar Wherein the skirt piece (32; 132) flexes radially outward to overcome the protrusion when the rotational torque is equal to or greater than the predetermined value. 5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the skirt piece (32; 132) comprises at least a radial wall (32b; 132b), the protrusion (24) And the radial wall (32b; 132b) abuts against the radial wall (32b; 132b) to limit rotation of the collar relative to the end piece until a value is applied to the collar, Of the skirt piece (32; 132) is greater than or equal to the height of the protrusion (24). 6. The skirt according to claim 5, further comprising a plurality of longitudinal ridges (35) formed on an inner wall (32a) of the skirt piece (32), each longitudinal ridge (35) And when the rotational torque is greater than or equal to the predetermined value, the rotation of the collar relative to the end piece, (24) to allow rotation of the collar relative to the projection (24). 5. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that a plurality of projections (24) are formed on and spaced from the outer wall of the end piece (21), the collar (30; 130) And a plurality of skirt pieces (32; 132) spaced around the periphery. 5. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that an annular ridge (23) is provided on the outer wall of the end piece (21) and the adapter securing means comprises an abutment surface (36; 136) provided on the inner wall of the collar , And the abutment surface (36; 136) engages onto the annular ridge (23; 23b) when the collar is engaged with the end piece and is urged in a distal direction. The adapter of claim 8, wherein the abutment surface is an annular rim (136; 136) provided on an inner wall (32a; 132a) of the skirt piece (32; 132) (s). 3. The adapter of claim 1 or 2, wherein the collar (30; 130) has threads (31; 131) formed on the inner surface of the distal wall (30b; 11. The adapter of claim 10, wherein the distal walls (30b; 130b) of the collar (30; 130) are formed from a material selected from olefins, polyamides, polycarbonates, polyether ketones, and combinations thereof. 3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the deactivating means (32; 132) is selected from the group consisting of olefins, polyamides, polycarbonates, thermoplastic elastomers, polyoxymethylene, polybutylene terephthalate, styrene polymers, polyvinyl chloride, Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and combinations thereof. 11. The adapter of claim 10, further comprising a reinforcement means (34) formed on an outer surface of the distal wall (30b) of the collar. 7. The adapter of claim 6, further comprising adapter guide means (37, 35a) for ensuring alignment of the collar on the end piece when the collar is engaged with the end piece. 15. The adapter of claim 14, wherein the radial walls (32b; 132b) of the skirt piece (32; 132) (s) form at least a portion of the adapter guiding means. 16. The adapter of claim 15, wherein the adapter guide means further comprises a longitudinal groove (37) formed by a gap present between the longitudinal ridges (35). A drug delivery device (1) comprising:
- a reservoir (20) for containing the product, having an end piece (21) projecting over a circle forming a passage (22) for delivery of the product from the reservoir,
- an adapter (100) having a collar (30; 130) engageable with said end piece,
- fixing means (23, 36; 136) for limiting translational movement of said collar with respect to said end piece when said collar is engaged with said end piece,
Rotation preventing means (24, 32b, 35; 132b) for restricting rotation of the collar with respect to the end piece when the collar is engaged with the end piece,
- deactivating means for neutralizing said anti-rotation means in response to a rotational torque equal to or greater than a predetermined value applied to said collar when said collar is engaged with said end piece to allow rotation of said collar relative to said end piece; (32; 132)
And a drug delivery device. The device of claim 17, wherein the anti-rotation means comprises at least a portion (32b, 35; 132b) located on the collar (30) and at least a complementary portion (24) located on the outer wall of the end piece (21) Wherein the portion and the complementary portion are engaged with each other until the predetermined value of the rotational torque is applied to the collar when the collar is engaged with the end piece. 18. A device according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that the deactivation means (32; 132) are arranged such that, when the collar is engaged with the end piece, Wherein the deactivating means is capable of turning radially outward under the effect of a rotational torque equal to or greater than the predetermined value and wherein the inactivating means is thereby disengaged from the portion of the anti-rotation means such that the collar rotates about the end piece The drug delivery device. 20. The device of claim 19, wherein said deactivating means comprises at least one skirt piece (32; 132) of said collar, said portion of said anti-rotation means comprising at least one Wherein the skirt piece (32; 132) and the protruding portion (24) comprise a protrusion (24), wherein when the collar is engaged with the end piece and the predetermined value of the rotational torque is applied to the collar Wherein the skirt piece (32; 132) is radially outwardly bent to overcome the protrusion when the rotational torque is equal to or greater than the predetermined value. 21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the skirt piece (32; 132) comprises at least a radial wall (32b; 132b), the protrusion (24) And the radial wall (32b; 132b) abuts against the radial wall (32b; 132b) to limit rotation of the collar relative to the end piece until a value is applied to the collar, Of the skirt piece (32; 132) is greater than or equal to the height of the skirt piece (32; 132). 22. The skirt according to claim 21, further comprising a plurality of longitudinal ridges (35) formed on an inner wall (32a) of the skirt piece (32), each longitudinal ridge (35) And to limit the rotation of the collar relative to the end piece until the predetermined value of the rotational torque is applied to the collar and when the rotational torque is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, Is releasably engageable with said projection (24) to permit rotation of said collar relative to said projection (24). 21. A device according to claim 20, characterized in that a plurality of protrusions (24) are formed on the outer wall of the end piece (21) and are spaced about the circumference, And a plurality of skirt pieces (32; 132) spaced from each other. 21. A device according to claim 20, characterized in that said fastening means comprises an annular ridge (23) provided on the outer wall of the end piece (21) and an abutment surface (36) provided on the inner wall of the collar (30) Wherein said collar engages said annular ridge when said collar engages around said end piece and is urged in a distal direction. The drug delivery device of claim 24, wherein the abutment surface is an annular rim (136; 136) provided on an inner wall (32a; 132a) of the skirt piece (32; 132) (s). 19. Drug delivery device according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the collar has threads (31; 131) formed on the inner surface of the distal wall (30b; 130b). 27. The drug delivery device of claim 26, wherein the distal wall (30b; 130b) of the collar is formed of a material selected from olefins, polyamides, polycarbonates, polyether ketones, and combinations thereof. 19. The method of claim 17 or 18, wherein the deactivating means (32; 132) is selected from the group consisting of olefins, polyamides, polycarbonates, thermoplastic elastomers, polyoxymethylene, polybutylene terephthalate, styrene polymers, polyvinyl chloride, Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and combinations thereof. 19. A drug delivery device according to claim 17 or 18, wherein said end piece (21) is made of glass. The drug delivery device according to claim 17 or 18, wherein said end piece (21) is made of plastic. 27. The drug delivery device of claim 26, further comprising a reinforcement means (34) formed on an outer surface of the distal wall (30b) of the collar (30). 23. A device according to claim 22, further comprising guide means (24, 32b, 37, 35a; 132b) for ensuring alignment of said collar (30) on said end piece when said collar is engaged with said end piece Lt; / RTI > 33. A device according to claim 32, wherein said guiding means comprises said radial wall (32b; 132b) (s) of said protrusion (s) and said skirt piece (s), said protrusion 30) slides along the radial wall (s) when engaged with the end piece (21). 34. The device according to claim 33, wherein said guide means further comprises a longitudinal groove (37) formed by a gap present between longitudinal ridges (35), each said projection (24) (30) engages in one of said longitudinal grooves (37) when engaged with said end piece (21).

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